Advertising Links

Posted June 26, 2006 EST

2 Critical After Gas Blast

United Kingdom -
Two women were critically ill in hospital last night after a gas explosion at a block of flats. The pair, believed to be in their 30s, were rescued by fire crews after the blast caused a fire at their home in Loanda Crescent in Newry, Co Down, at 10.30pm on Saturday.

One woman was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast and the other is being treated at the Ulster Hospital at Dundonald.

Fire service spokesman Brian Greer said: "When the crew entered the building they assisted one female from the flat, then they re- entered and rescued a woman from the bedroom of that flat.

"It was a small fire at the time the brigade carried out the rescue and it was only subsequently we realised there had been some form of gas explosion."

Mr Greer said a window had been blown out by the blast and damage caused to the internal structure of the building.